4/15

25 years ago I escaped from Chernobyl. Next week I will join my friends facing nuclear disaster in Japan.
Both decisions were about survival.

The first was running away from the unknown consequences of nuclear disasters; the second is understanding that there is nowhere to ‘escape’ to, the consequences of modern humans stupidity in playing with forces beyond their control affects everyone and every living thing on every corner of the globe.
Right now the radiation is flowing into the pacific making its way to our pristine beaches. There has to be a final end to this poisonous result of a culture gone mad. This must be the generation; this must be the time.

My greatest hope is that the people with their eyes open in Japan, those who have been leading the way towards a safe, happy, sustainable future for many years feel charged with a mission to step forth with clarity, compassion and courage, dismantling the old thinking and growing a new culture.

If my visit to Tokyo can help bring encouragement to dismantle these nuclear power plants, these symbols of death and destruction, then this may be the most effective action to safeguard the future of my children and all others.

It is a complex juggle between head and heart, between the collective and the intensely personal. My family is very worried about my decision and asked me to prepare a will. They fear that my children will be left without their Mother. I guess it is that time on the Earth, when people crave protection and safety, but must face the abyss, we simply cannot continue living the way we always have, we must step out of our comfort zone. Mother Earth is shaking us to wake up.
In the meantime, since 3/11, we have still been ‘busy’ here in our forest life, trying not to feel embarrassed about how small our actions seem to be.

Ken, Fumitaka and Yoshiki came to visit and stay with us and we shared our slohas lifestyle with them. They came with me to the school where we kept going with our environmental program, including a ‘Council of All Beings’ performance with the year 2/3 class. Here are some photos that tell the story.


Photos

1) waiting for the rainbow lorikeets

2) the rainbow lorikeets are there

I took Ken, Yoshiki and Fumitaka to the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary, (a place I have been visiting since I was 4 years old) where the rainbow lorikeets bring wonder and joy. Pacha’s face tells me she knows what is to come, while for most of us waiting can be boring…

3) coab iluka

Yani joined his year 2/3 class in the Council of All Beings performance that took place in front of the whole school at assembly. The feedback was fantastic from parents and teachers both. The objective of presenting a new way of learning and teaching about the environment was met…

4) crazy for vegies

I asked the kindy class (5 year olds) what their favourite vegetables were and 3 kids said ‘ice-cream’. So I brought in a range of real vegetables to show them what they were. The teacher couldn’t believe how enthusiastic they were about eating raw broccoli!

5) dusk swim

There is a rainbow in this picture at the Bluff beach where all the kids had a dusk swim.

6) Ken - sazae

Ken showed us Sazae we could find among the rocks. We took them home, said a prayer and cooked them on the fire. We have found another survival food!

7) ollie and kids

Yoshiki and Fumitaka chattered and laughed for 3 hours as we walked on Ollie through the forest meeting birds and kangaroos.

8) peace cranes

Ken, Yoshiki and Fumitaka came with me into the school several times, showing other kids origami. I tried to encourage them to make peace cranes for Japan, but the kids wanted to run around playing soccer!

9) visitors in forest

Yoshiki and Fumitaka on our forest walk.

10) yani dances

The school holidays have now started and the kids are having fun. Dancing is one of their favourite pastimes!